Microsoft Corp on Tuesday put its spin on Google Inc’s Chromecast with a device that lets people mirror what is on Windows-powered tablets or smartphones on their television screens.
The US technology giant unveiled the Microsoft Wireless Display Adaptor, a thumb-drive-size gizmo that plugs into HDMI and USB ports in televisions, and then wirelessly connects with tablets, computer or smartphones running Miracast software.
Several companies already make Miracast plug-in devices for TVs.
“With the Wireless Display Adaptor, I don’t have to worry about getting everyone to huddle around a device,” Brandon LeBlanc of Microsoft said in a blog post. “All the content I care about, along with audio, is easily shared on the big screen.”
The adaptors were available at Microsoft’s online shop for order in the US and Canada at a price of US$60, with release set for next month.
Google launched a Chromecast “dongle” in July last year with a US$35 price tag. Chromecast plugs into TV sets and essentially allows people to use smartphones or tablets to orchestrate content streamed directly from the Internet “cloud.”
By contrast, the Microsoft adaptor is depicted as beaming onto a TV what is in browsing software on mobile devices.
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